Burning Daylight

I have 1 full day of work left before the entire city of Canberra shuts down for 2 weeks over Christmas. Its a beautiful thing, unique amongst the towering and glittery metropolies of Australia.
Unusually I've been working right up to the wire. Typically December is a slow down with the last week being a blur of Xmas parties, work BBQ's and random drink driving tests.
Not this year, this year has finished busy. So I have to say I'm glad that I have time to jot down a few notes. I haven't even had time to go shopping for presents, I've got an office Secret Santa, a nieces first birthday, Jesus's birthday and my Dad's to sort out.
My apartment is decoration free, mostly because I haven't been home and partly because all the decorations are at my ex-Wife's place (but at least they'll get used, so thats a good thing). I haven't sent out any Christmas cards because I find it a pain in the arse and I've only received one. People are getting the message.

And yet I'm waiting on that last minute phonecall from Sydney, insisting that we force through an action with a customer on issue X... Perhaps if I play dead.

Well I only have a few more days left before presents are due and as usual it looks like descending into a last minute scrabble. I both like and detest Christmas shopping. I like buying presents for people I genuinely do. But Christmas has this pressure cooker feel to it that shits me and nobody wants an IOU.
Like anything creative shopping for that perfect present requires a state of mind or grace that cannot be forced. Its an ascension of the spirit and budget that should reflect harmony and happiness.

I'm not quite there yet.

Why, Why, Why

My car is back in the shop.
I've had this vehicle for 2 months and its been off the road for about a third of that time.
I name thee Achilles.

This time it turns out the drive shafts I had replaced where for a 4 cylinder Landie not my 6 cylinder. The correct parts won't be ready until mid Jan...

On the plus side its Christmas soon, so having a car will be less of an issue as I'll be up in Sydney for a week. After I have discharged my fillial duties it'll be off to NZ for a New Years monster PAR-TEH with Seraph, Mrs Seraph and others.
Possibly might be low key, we'll see...

Actually I'm really looking forward to it. This year has been one of huge changes and I'm grateful for the chance to drop out of it all. And to be honest I don't know what the next year will bring. Or where the hell I'll be or what I'll be doing. As I'm typing this out I have this sense of big change coming. Perhaps a new city, definately a new job.

A wiser man than I once told me 'everything changes, nothing stays the same'. In my book he has not been proved wrong. The way to handle change in my opinion is to either be effected by it or be responsible for it. When ever I can spot that a change is coming or is needed, I try and face it on my terms.
Otherwise it can just be terrifying.

A lot of Soccer

While some people manage to cripple themselves horribly in a social game (LINK)
I manage to win 'Best and Fairest' awards.
This weekend was Soccer a go-go, had the final Saturday Morning match of the year (Blue team got pantsed by the Red 2-1). We will now retire for the Summer and regroup around March some time. Its just too darn hot trying to play in 30c+ temperatures, or so those guys say...
I've just started playing in a Sunday league and their games are Sunday arvo. I've only played in 2 games we lost last week and this week pulled off a 1-0 victory. Part of the way the league works is a Golden Boot award and a Best and Fairest award at the end of the year.
Golden Boot = Most Goals
Best and Fairest = For being a good sport

Its a lot of fun and everyone is there to enjoy themselves (except the odd dickhead who has nothing else in their miserable meaningless lives)(but you'll always get at least one).
Part of the responsibilities is being a ref for other games. Usually the teams can ref themselves very well (being adults) but its part of the game. As I got Best and Fairest I got to ref a game as well.
Which gave the chance to see last years champs (Goalissimo)play - those guys where fraking amazing!! The other team was great, but these guys made them look like they were underwater. Wow!
Both teams will ofcourse utterly destroy my team, Nerds FU, when they next meet.
We should probably just forefit now and save our energy...

Do you believe me now?

I filled in on the radio last night and brought along my regular late night radio conspirator Deano with me.
We programmed a fairly loose mix of Motown, jazz, funk and the occasional soul track thrown in. we even got a couple of calls telling us how awesome we were. Always helps I think.
Here's a photo of me looking all professional and with a cold head!